Sunday, March 29, 2020

Busting some coronavirus myths and answering questions

Hello all, I hope you are doing well. The world has gone crazy. There
is a lot of misinformation as well as information overload going on.
Like everyone else, I am feeling the impact of all of this. In fact,
I've had to take a little break from the constant news cycle churn for
my sanity.
As you know, the bloggity has been around for a while and the focus has
always been on books and romance. This is my happy place. However, with
what's going on, I feel like since I am privileged to have this
platform that I should (without overwhelming everyone) share some
thoughts, insights, and information. I promise this will not get heavy
or depressing. And it will not be too frequent. As a person, I always
endeavor to remain upbeat.

To that end, I received an email this morning from author HP Mallory. She
sent it out as a PSA to help people understand facts and bust some
myths surrounding the virus. I thought it was extremely useful
information and well presented. She has kindly given me permission to
share it with you. I hope you found it as helpful as I did and it
brings you a level of clarity and comfort. Feel free to share it with
your friends and family too.

I am not sharing this to get into any arguments with anyone. Make of it what you will.

As always, I am thinking of
you and hoping you stay safe and healthy. Back to regular programming
next.

Disclaimer: I'm sure everyone
has different views about what's good advice and what isn't. This list
is just meant to help shed light on some questions. Feel free to agree
or disagree.

Misconception:
If you can hold your breath for 10 seconds, you don't have Coronavirus.Fact: The
above post, which began circulating on Twitter, Facebook, and in
emails was falsely credited to a member of the "Stanford Hospital
board." Stanford Health Care spokeswoman Lisa Kim told CNN the
"dangerous" post is not affiliated with Stanford Medicine and "contains
inaccurate information."

Misconception:
Drinking water will flush the virus from your mouth.Fact: This
post, copied and pasted by multiple Facebook accounts, quotes a
"Japanese doctor" who recommends drinking water every 15 minutes to
flush out any virus that might have entered the mouth. A version in
Arabic has been shared more than 250,000 times!
Professor Trudie Lang at the University of Oxford says there is "no
biological mechanism" that would support the idea that you can just
wash a respiratory virus down into your stomach and kill it.

Misconception:
Parcels from China can spread Coronavirus.Fact:
According to Medical News Today: From previous research into similar
coronaviruses, including those that cause SARS and MERS and are similar
to SARS-CoV-2, scientists believe that the virus cannot survive on
letters or packages for an extended time.
The CDC explains “because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses
on surfaces, there is likely a very low risk of spread from products or
packaging that is shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient
temperatures.”

Misconception:
Pets spread Coronavirus to each other and humans.Fact:
According to the CDC, there have been no reported cases of pets or
other animals becoming sick with COVID-19 in the United States, and
there is no evidence that companion animals can spread COVID-19.
Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming
sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people sick with
COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known
about the virus.

Misconception:
Vitamin C supplements will stop you from catching Coronavirus.Fact:
According to Livescience.com: Researchers have yet to find any evidence
that vitamin C supplements can render people immune to COVID-19
infection. In fact, for most people, taking extra vitamin C does not
even ward off the common cold, though it may shorten the duration of a
cold if you catch one.
That said, vitamin C serves essential roles in the human body and
supports normal immune function.
So yes, vitamin C should absolutely be included in your daily diet if
you want to maintain a healthy immune system. But megadosing on
supplements are unlikely to lower your risk of catching COVID-19, and
may at most give you a "modest" advantage against the virus, should you
become infected.

Misconception:
Hand dryers can kill the virus.Fact:
According to the World Health Organization, hand dryers are not
effective in killing Coronavirus. To protect yourself against the
virus, you should frequently clean your hands with an alcohol-based
hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Once your hands are cleaned,
you should dry them thoroughly by using paper towels or a warm air
dryer.

Misconception:
You can catch Coronavirus from eating Chinese food in the US.Fact:
According to Medical News Today: No, you can't.

Misconception:
Aiming a blow dryer up your nostrils can destroy the virus.Fact:
According to US News & World Report: There's no truth to the
idea that the heat from a hair dryer can get rid of the coronavirus.
“If this worked, we would've been using it and instituting clinical
trials with blow dryers rather than worrying about ventilators and ICU
beds,” says Dr. Amna Husain, a board-certified pediatrician with Pure
Direct Pediatrics. She’s based in Marlboro, New Jersey.

Misconception:
The flu shot protects against the virus.Fact:
According to LiveScience.com: The flu vaccine is designed to prevent
infections with influenza viruses, which are very different than
coronaviruses. But the answer is slightly more complicated than that:
The flu vaccine won't prevent you from getting coronavirus, but it can
help officials better respond to the outbreak of COVID-19.
"I do think immunizing people against influenza has a very important
indirect effect," said Dr. Albert Ko, a professor, and department chair
at the Yale School of Public Health.

Misconception:
You can protect yourself by gargling bleach.Fact:
According to Medical News Today: There are no circumstances in which
gargling bleach might benefit your health. Bleach is corrosive and can
cause serious damage.

Misconception:
5G caused Coronavirus.Fact:
According to CNET, 5G is not responsible for causing the coronavirus.
Coronaviruses have been around for decades, long before the advent of
the wireless networks we have today.

Misconception:
Warm weather will get rid of the virus.Fact:
According to the World Health Organization: From the evidence so far,
the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in ALL AREAS, including areas
with hot and humid weather. Regardless of climate, adopt protective
measures if you live in, or travel to an area reporting COVID-19.

Misconception:
Wearing a mask will protect you from getting Coronavirus.Fact:
According to LiveScience.com: Standard surgical masks can't protect you
from Coronavirus, as they aren't designed to block out viral particles
and do not lay flush to the face. That said, surgical masks can help
prevent infected people from spreading the virus further by blocking
any respiratory droplets that could be expelled from their mouths.
Within health care facilities, special respirators called "N95
respirators" have been shown to greatly reduce the spread of the virus
among medical staff.

Misconception:
Garlic or herbs will cure or protect you from Coronavirus.Fact:
According to the World Health Organization: Garlic is a healthy food
that may have some antimicrobial properties. However, there is no
evidence from the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected
people from coronavirus.

Misconception:
African-Americans are immune to Coronavirus.Fact:
According to US News & World Report: The idea that
African-Americans are immune to the coronavirus is a myth that has
appeared on social media.

Misconception:
Spraying alcohol or bleach on your body will protect you against
Coronavirus.Fact:
According to the World Health Organization: Spraying alcohol or
chlorine all over your body will not kill viruses that have already
entered your body. Spraying such substances can be harmful to clothes
or mucous membranes (i.e. eyes, mouth).

Misconception:
Drinking alcohol can protect you from Coronavirus.Fact:
According to US News & World Report: Consuming alcoholic
beverages will not protect you from contracting the virus or its
effects. In fact, in Iran, dozens of people have died from alcohol
poisoning after drinking bootleg booze to try to shield themselves from the Coronavirus, according to an official Iranian news agency.

Misconception:
Taking a hot bath will prevent you from getting the virus.Fact:
According to the World Health Organization: Taking a hot bath will not
prevent you from catching COVID-19.

Misconception:
You need to wash your hands with special soap.Fact:
According to US News & World Report: There’s no need to buy
soaps that are marketed as “medical” or “antibacterial”. Washing your
hands often, for 20 seconds with soap and water, is one of the best
ways to prevent being infected with the coronavirus. Regular soap is
fine.

Misconception:
Coronavirus can be transmitted through mosquito bites.Fact:
According to the World Health Organization: To date, there has been no
information nor evidence to suggest the coronavirus could be
transmitted by mosquitoes. The coronavirus is a respiratory virus which
spreads primarily through droplets generated when an infected person
coughs or sneezes, or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the
nose.

Misconception:
Rinsing your nose with saline will help prevent the virus.Fact:
According to US News & World Report: There is no evidence that
regularly rinsing the nose with saline has protected people from
infection with coronavirus.

Misconception:
Coronavirus is airborne.Fact:
According to US News & World Report: The coronavirus isn’t
airborne – you can’t get it merely by breathing the same air as an
infected person. Health officials say the primary mode of transmission
occurs when an infected person coughs or sneezes on someone.

Question:
Can I take ibuprofen, aspirin or Advil?Answer (from CNN): This
one is not black and white because there are conflicting reports. The FDA
and the European
Medicines Agency both say that there isn't enough scientific
evidence that shows taking ibuprofen or other nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs could worsen a coronavirus infection. The FDA
says it is now looking into the claim to make a further recommendation.

However, several experts backed up these claims in a report
published in the British Medical Journal, saying that in
general, ibuprofen should not be used to treat fever and that
"prolonged illness or the complications of respiratory infections may
be more common when NSAIDs are used."

On March 18, 2020, the WHO
tweeted that it does not recommend for people with COVID-19
to avoid ibuprofen, and had that information posts on its page
about coronavirus myths. However, that information has since
been removed as of March 25, 2020. The UK's National Health Service
currently recommends taking
paracetamol (acetaminophen in the US) to ease coronavirus
symptoms, and does not mention taking any NSAIDs.

For now, contact your doctor or medical provider if you think you have
a coronavirus infection and get their recommendation on what kinds of
medications to take to manage symptoms.

Question: What
are the symptoms of Coronavirus?Answer:

Loss of smell and taste (From the New York Times)

Cough: Not just any cough but a dry cough that you feel in
your chest. (From CNN health) You won’t cough anything up.

Fever: It’s not a fever unless your temperature reaches
100. Take your temperature in the late afternoon or early evening (From
CNN health).

Exhaustion (From CDC)

Difficulty Breathing (From CDC)

Shortness of Breath: Can occur without a cough. (From CNN
Health) If you have a shortness of breath, call your doctor. If severe,
call 911.

Question:
How long does coronavirus stay “alive” on surfaces?Answer (From CNN):
Up to three days, depending on the surface. According to a
study funded by the US National Institutes of Health:
The new coronavirus is viable up to 72 hours after being placed on
stainless steel and plastic.
It was viable up to four hours after being placed on copper, and up to
24 hours after being put on cardboard.
In aerosols, it remained viable for three
hours.

Question: Is
it safe to get takeout from restaurants?Answer (From
CNN):
Yes, but you may want to wipe down the packaging and containers, just
in case.
There’s no evidence to suggest coronavirus is transmitted through food,
the CDC
says. It’s generally spread through respiratory droplets.
But it’s a good idea to disinfect the takeout containers and wash your
hands afterward, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta said.
He stressed that coronavirus is a respiratory virus, and it’s easy to
touch your face without realizing it.

Question: Can
you get coronavirus through food?Answer (From CNN):
There is no evidence to support that coronavirus is transmitted through
food, the CDC
says. It’s generally thought to be spread from
person-to-person through respiratory droplets.

Question: Who
is most at risk?Answer (from CNN):
Older people (above 60)
Those with other medical conditions: even if young
Those with:

Ashthma

Diabetes

Heart disease or heart failure

Sickle cell anemia

Cancer (or undergoing chemo)

HIV

Autoimmune Disorders

Kidney disease (with dialysis)

A Body mass index of above 40 (or extremely obese)

Question:
Can coronavirus go through skin and into the body?Answer: “It
may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or
object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth,
nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main
way the virus spreads,” the CDC
says.
More often than not, people get coronavirus through respiratory
droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
“These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are
nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs,” the CDC says.

Question:
How long is someone contagious after getting coronavirus?Answer: It
varies. Decisions about when a person can be released from isolation
are made on a case-by-case basis.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued
guidelines for when it is OK to release someone from
isolation. They include meeting all of these requirements:

The patient is free from fever without the use of
fever-reducing medications.

Question:
Should I disinfect my groceries? If so, how?Answer: “I
would suggest wiping down external surfaces of canned or wrapped
foods,” said Dr. Celine Gounder, an infectious disease specialist at
Bellevue Hospital Center.
“You should be washing your vegetables (and) produce anyway,” she said.
“But I think making sure you sanitize your hands, wash your hands after
you do all that – after you unpack all your groceries – is also a key
step.”

Question: The
stores are all out of disinfectant sprays and hand sanitizer. Can I
make my own?Answer (from CNN):
Yes, you can make your own disinfectant if you’re trying to kill
coronavirus on a non-porous surface.
The Nebraska Medical Center – famous
for its biocontainment unit and treatment of Ebola patients –
offers
this recipe:
What you’ll need:

2/3 cup 91% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)

1/3 cup aloe vera gel

Mixing bowl

Spoon or something for whisking

Small container, such as a 3 oz. travel bottle

Optional: essential oil to give your hand sanitizer a
fragrance

Directions:

In a mixing bowl, stir isopropyl alcohol and aloe vera gel
together until well blended.

Write “hand sanitizer” on a piece of masking tape and affix
to the bottle.

Question: If
traveling on a plane, how do I stay safe?Answer (from CNN):
It’s not the cabin air you need to worry about. It’s keeping your hands
clean. Always be mindful of where your hands have been, travel medicine
specialist Dr. Richard Dawood said. Airport handrails, door handles and
airplane lavatory levers are notoriously dirty.
“It is OK to touch these things as long as you then wash or sanitize
your hands before contaminating your face, touching or handling food,”
Dawood said.
“Hand sanitizers are great. So are antiseptic hand wipes, which you can
also use to wipe down armrests, remote controls at your seat and your
tray table.”

Question: Should
I spray myself or my kids with disinfectant?Answer (from CNN):
No. Those products work on surfaces but can be dangerous to your body.
If the virus is already in your body, putting those substances on your
skin or under your nose won’t kill it, the World
Health Organization says. Not to mention, those chemicals can
harm you.
And please – do not ingest chemical disinfectants.

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About Me

I love all things beauty and makeup, reading and books, and also have a keen interest in cooking and food. Combined with a husband who loves wine, we write a number of blogs that align with our interests. I have two blogs: Deanna's World which focuses on all things books and beauty, and Daz In The Kitchen which is my cooking and food blog. I hope you visit and stay around.

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